Energy Audit Services and Assessments

After a thorough energy audit, Worldwide Energy provides companies in Lenexa and Kansas City with custom energy efficient solutions that provide reductions in energy costs and greenhouse emissions by up to 60%. In addition, we secure project funds by acquiring utility rebates, state and federal tax incentives, and 24-hour financing approval for up to $150,000.

Worldwide Energy is a certified utility company auditor, trade partner, and utility rebate partner for many utility companies across the US.

Worldwide Energy uses the DOE’s Portfolio Manager, the ComCheck Building Energy Codes Program to assess qualifications for the federal Energy Policy Act tax deduction, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s guideline for inspection for commercial buildings.

To provide our clients with the information they need to make smart decisions with their energy efficiency initiatives, we offer a variety of different levels of audits and assessments to meet nearly every requirement – from a lighting only audit, to a DOE Energy Star Benchmarking to compressed air studies, or a specific assessment of process equipment.

ENERGY STAR Benchmarking and Certification

ENERGY STAR certified buildings and plants meet strict energy performance standards set by EPA. They use less energy, are less expensive to operate, and cause fewer greenhouse gas emissions than their peers. Starting with the first ENERGY STAR certified building in 1999, tens of thousands of buildings and plants across America have already earned EPA’s ENERGY STAR for superior energy performance.

How to earn the ENERGY STAR for your building or plant

Currently, more than 30 types of facilities can earn the ENERGY STAR. Commercial buildings start by entering their utility bill data and building information into Portfolio Manager, the EPA’s online tool for measuring and tracking energy use, water use, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Industrial plants start by entering key plant operating data into another set of tools, called Energy Performance Indicators.

Both tools calculate a 1 to 100 ENERGY STAR score. Facilities that score a 75 or higher are eligible to apply for ENERGY STAR certification. Before facilities can earn the ENERGY STAR, a professional engineer or registered architect must verify that the information contained within the certification application is accurate

Example of ENERGYSTAR plant certification

The EPA also distinguishes the best performing manufacturing plants within an industry with ENERGY STAR certification.

Select manufacturing plants located in the U.S. and its territories can earn ENERGY STAR certification and display the ENERGY STAR similar to those seen on appliances and electronics in the marketplace. Manufacturing plants must achieve an ENERGY STAR score of 75 or higher using an industry-specific ENERGY STAR Energy Performance Indicator (EPI). EPIs, EPA’s benchmarking tools for industrial plants, measure a plant’s energy performance and compare it to that of similar plants nationwide, generating an ENERGY STAR score on a scale of 1 to 100.

Certified plants are awarded a congratulatory letter to the company’s CEO, a certificate of achievement, decals for identifying the plant’s certification, the option to obtain flags/banners/plaques, and a listing in EPA’s ENERGY STAR certified plant registry.

Determining eligibility

Manufacturing plants must satisfy the plant description located within the “instructions” sheet of the applicable industry-specific EPI, score 75 or higher using the appropriate EPI, and satisfy an environmental compliance screen.

Examples of Eligible plant types

Auto Assembly

Cement

Container Glass

Cookie & Cracker

Flat Glass

Frozen Fried Potato Processing

Integrated Paper Mill

Juice Processing

Petroleum Refining (private system)

Pharmaceutical

Pulp Mill

Wet Corn Milling

Types of Energy Audits

An energy audit is the key to a systematic approach to decision-making in the area of energy management. The primary function of an energy audit is to identify all of the energy streams in a facility in order to balance total energy input with energy use.
Energy audits vary in depth, depending on the potential at a specific site for energy and cost reductions and the project parameters set by the client. As per ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) standards there are three types of audits, outlined below.
The four main objectives of an energy audit are as follows:

To establish an energy consumption baseline;

To quantify energy usage according to its discrete functions;

To benchmark with similar facilities under similar weather conditions; and

Energy Audit Best Practice

It has been estimated that O&M (Operation & Maintenance – Best Practices) programs targeting energy efficiency can save 5% to 20% on energy bills. Effective O&M is one of the most cost-effective methods for ensuring reliability, safety, and energy efficiency. Inadequate maintenance of energy-using systems is a major cause of energy waste.

Energy losses from steam, water and air leaks, non-insulated lines, maladjusted or inoperable controls, and other losses from poor maintenance are often considerable. Good maintenance practices can generate substantial energy savings and should be considered a resource. Improvements to facility maintenance programs can often be accomplished immediately and at a relatively low cost.

Properly performed O&M ensures that the design life expectancy of equipment will be achieved, and in some cases exceeded. Conversely, the costs associated with early equipment failure are usually not budgeted for and often come at the expense of other planned O&M activities.

O&M measures cost approximately 20 times less and achieve roughly the same energy savings as retrofit measures.

A well functioning O&M program is proactive and corrects situations before they become problems. This model minimizes callbacks and keeps occupants satisfied while allowing more time for scheduled maintenance.

Compressed AirCompressed air (sometimes called the fourth utility) is probably the most expensive form of energy available in an industrial plant because of its poor efficiency Inadequate maintenance can lower compressor efficiency, increase air leakage or pressure variability and lead to increased operating temperatures, poor moisture control and excessive contamination.

Monitoring & Maintenance

Proper monitoring (and maintenance) can save a lot of energy and money in compressed air systems. Compressed air distribution systems should be checked when equipment has been reconfigured to be sure no air is flowing to unused equipment or obsolete parts of the compressed air distribution system.

Applications requiring compressed air should be checked for excessive pressure, duration or volume. They should be regulated, either by production line sectioning or by pressure regulators on the equipment itself. Equipment not required to operate at maximum system pressure should use a quality pressure regulator. Poor quality regulators tend to drift and lose more air. Otherwise, the unregulated equipment operates at maximum system pressure at all times and wastes the excess energy. Systems operating at high pressures for excessive time will result in shorter equipment life and higher maintenance costs.

Reduce leaks (in pipes and equipment)

Leaks can be a significant source of wasted energy. A typical plant that has not been well maintained could have a leak rate between 20 to 50% of total compressed air production capacity. Leak repair and maintenance can sometimes reduce this number to less than 10%. Overall, a 20% reduction of annual energy consumption in compressed air systems is projected for fixing leaks

In addition to increased energy consumption, leaks can make pneumatic systems/equipment less efficient and adversely affect production, shorten the life of equipment, lead to additional maintenance requirements and increased unscheduled downtime. Leaks cause an increase in compressor energy and maintenance costs.

The most common areas for leaks are couplings, hoses, tubes, fittings, pressure regulators, open condensate traps and shut-off valves, pipe joints, disconnects and thread sealants. Quick connect fittings always leak and should be avoided.

Controls

Remembering that the total air requirement is the sum of the average air consumption for pneumatic equipment, not the maximum for each, the objective of any control strategy is to shut off unneeded compressors or delay bringing on additional compressors until needed. All compressors that are on should be running at full-load, except for one, which should handle trim duty. Positioning of the control loop is also important; reducing and controlling the system pressure downstream of the primary receiver results in reduced energy consumption of up to 10% or more

Natural gas engine-driven air compressors

Gas engine-driven air compressors can replace electric compressors with some advantages and disadvantages. Gas engine-driven compressors are more expensive but may have lower overall operating costs, depending on the relative costs of electricity and gas. Variable speed capability is standard for gas-fired compressors, offering high efficiency over a wide range of loads. Heat can be recovered from the engine jacket and exhaust system.

Energy Modeling

Digital modeling of a building structure simulates all aspects of energy use within the building. The model is built based on current building plans. The existing lighting and mechanical systems are modeled using data gained from a building audit. The model provides virtual visual models of the building and its floor plans. Operating cost of various options is based on local weather data and is run for each hour of a typical year.

The base model (current building layout use and systems) is calibrated until the model matches actual utility bill for the past two years (provided by you). This is the assurance that the digital model is accurate and can be used confidently.

Digital energy modeling of the facility will:

Determine actual heating and cooling loads for the building.

Determine the proper sizing of boiler and condensing units needed to meet those loads.

Allow for evaluation of various scenarios of Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) for the building.

Determine the energy savings resulting from the various ECMs

Commissioning – Retro-Commissioning – Re Commissioning

Building commissioning

When a building is initially commissioned it undergoes an intensive quality assurance process that begins during design and continues through construction, occupancy, and operations. Commissioning ensures that the new building operates initially as the owner intended and that building staff are prepared to operate and maintain its systems and equipment.

Retro-commissioning is the application of the commissioning process to existing buildings. Retro-commissioning is a process that seeks to improve how building equipment and systems function together. Depending on the age of the building, retro-commissioning can often resolve problems that occurred during design or construction, or address problems that have developed throughout the building’s life. In all, retro-commissioning improves a building’s operations and maintenance (O&M) procedures to enhance overall building performance.

Re-commissioning is another type of commissioning that occurs when a building that has already been commissioned undergoes another commissioning process. The decision to re-commission may be triggered by a change in building use or ownership, the onset of operational problems, or some other need. Ideally, a plan for re-commissioning is established as part of a new building’s original commissioning process or an existing building’s retro-commissioning process.

Mechanical Assessment – HVAC

Document through pictures the condition of all components of HVAC system for review with our mechanical engineer and energy manager to determine if there’s value in an upgrade or replacement.

Review HVAC Systems documentation

Review maintenance records

Speak to staff to determine if HVAC system functions normally, or known problems exist, Review maintenance procedures and policies to determine if a Best Practices program for maintenance is in place or would be of benefit to the client.

Building Envelope Assessment –

While we specialize in multi-family building envelope opportunities, we can also take attic and roof pictures, evaluate windows and doors, and use thermal imaging as a part of our energy audit process to determine if there are any opportunities for upgrades to insulation, windows and doors, or upgrades to HVAC systems.

Custom Energy Solutions

Testimonials

“Since the installation we cannot say enough great things about [the] company. Not only were installers professional and efficient, but there was no interference with our day to day production during installation. We immediately have noticed a savings in our energy bills.”-Justin Kelly, Tompkins Industries Inc.